In three days, I will board a flight for London to begin an epic family adventure–our biggest one yet. My husband and I and our two boys are traveling to Spain and staying for 2 and a half months.  This has been 2 years in the making (we thought we might go last year!), with the seed of an idea that maybe we could live an unconventional life, that we could set into motion this impossible dream of living somewhere internationally.  As I believe about all intentions–it takes a mix of dogged determination, a willingness to take action, an open-mindedness to let your intention shift and change with grace, and then a huge helping of support from the universe.  This trip is possible because all those things fell into place.

Spending time in Spain is a reset and recharge moment for me.  A sabbatical from clients, teaching, and being on-call.  Stepping away from and out of the struggle of managing an uncertain and unpredictable, emotionally exhausting (and fulfilling!) work schedule while at the same time raising unpredictable and emotionally exhausting (and fulfilling!) kids. It’s a stepping towards myself and my own inner life.  I look forward to having a singular caregiver focus–family.  And yet, as Jon Kabat Zinn says, “wherever you go, there you are, ” so I will still be battling my own inner distractions and struggles to stay fully present amidst travel schedules, lack of routine, and language barriers.  The beauty of this trip is all this family time and connection, and in some ways my biggest fear is all this uninterrupted family time (no school or camp!?) and connection.

Right now, I am in this liminal space, filled with uncertainty and unknowing, anticipation and a little fear.  Will we have what we need? Will we be safe? Have we prepared enough? This is not unlike the space my mamas occupy before giving birth and meeting their baby, and one I counsel women through all the time.  When you’re in it, and you notice it for the first time, it can make you feel awful, restless, anxiety-ridden. It can make you want to crawl out of your skin. But then you live through the birth, the job change, the move, etc. and you realize the gifts you’ve been given–transformation, growth, confidence, and greater self-awareness.

As someone seasoned in liminal spaces, I begin to crave this space if things have been static for too long. I become restless and anxious in consistency, routine and structure. I believe that life is just too limitless and the world just too big to be pinned down in one spot. I believe we are here to be ever-evolving and growing beings–to press ourselves outside our comfort zones to see just how far we can go. My own practices of breathing, meditation and yoga have helped me navigate the tides of change AND consistency, which is why I believe in them so much.

I look forward to the impact this trip will have on me, as travel inevitably does, and the ways we’ll all be better for it as a family.  If you want to follow along with us to see how it all unfolds, I’ll be here and on instagram @savoritstudios to document the highlights of our adventures. Thank you for helping me to feel a deeper sense of connection and community!